OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF MINING ON THE ... - IIED pubs

2.9.3.9 Zimbabwe Environmental Impact Assessment Policy, 1994
The Interim Policy issued by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism is based on seven principles that serve as
guidelines for decision-making on policy implementation. These principles are:
1). The EIA must enhance and not inhibit development, by contributing to environmental sustainability.
2). EIA is a means for project planning, and not just evaluation
3). Identifying means for managing project impacts is an essential component of the EIA Policy
4). The EIA Policy depends on the normal regulatory functions of permitting authorities to implement the EIA
results.
5). The EIA Policy involves the participation of all government agencies with a mandated interest in the
benefits and costs of a project.
6). The EIA Policy pays particular attention to the distribution of project costs and benefits
7). Public consultation is an essential part of EIA Policy 26 .
Compliance with the Policy is currently voluntary, but it is expected to be legislated soon. The Interim Policy is
administered by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and applies to both private and public sector
developments. The document has a list of prescribed activities for which EIAs are required (Table 2.4). In addition
the Minister is empowered to prescribe other activities, which he/she feels may have significant environmental
impacts, or cause community disruption.
All submissions under the Interim Policy are made to the Minister, who will maintain a register of all activities being
appraised. Three levels of reports are possible 27 .
1) A Prospectus is a short (1 or 2 page) document informing the Minister that a prescribed activity is being
considered. Based on the prospectus the Minister has 21 days to decide if the second level of report - a
Preliminary EIA - is needed 28 .
2) The Preliminary EIA is a comprehensive initial assessment of the environmental impacts of a project.
Detailed Terms of Reference need to be approved by the Ministry, who may require that a joint scoping
exercise between the proponent and the Ministry be carried out before the Terms of Reference are
written. The Natural Resources Board, who may call in outside advisors, reviews the draft report. The
Ministry has 60 days in which to review the first draft and 30 days to review subsequent drafts. The final
document is either approved and the activity is allowed to proceed, subject to, if necessary, environmental
terms and conditions, or it is not granted and a detailed EIA is requested on the significant impacts 29 .
26 Section 3
27 Section 4
28 Section 4.1
29 Section 4.2
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